HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2150

                       As Passed House

                      February 14, 1994

Title:  An act relating to firearm range training and practice facilities.

Brief Description:  Closing firearm training and practice facilities.

Sponsors:  Representatives Campbell, Ballasiotes, Chappell, Mastin, Tate, Chandler, Roland, Brough and Lisk.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, February 2, 1994, DP;

  Passed House, February 14, 1994, 88-1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Johanson, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Chappell; Eide; Forner; J. Kohl; Long; Morris; H. Myers; Schmidt; Scott and Tate.

Staff:  Margaret Allen (786-7191).

Background:  Previously safe locations to shoot have been lost due to urban growth.  Many law enforcement personnel and members of the general public now use firearm range training and practice facilities as places to safely shoot their firearms.

There is concern that if local governments close such facilities without replacing them, law enforcement personnel and members of the public will be left with few opportunities for safe training or recreational shooting.

Summary of Bill:  A local government may close a firearm range training and practice facility only if the facility is replaced with another facility of at least equal capacity.  More than one closed facility may be replaced with a single facility, if the capacity of the replacement facility is at least as large as the combined capacities of the closed facilities.

The replacement facility must be open for use within 30 days of the closure of the replaced facility or facilities and must be available for use by law enforcement personnel and the general public to the same extent as the closed facility or facilities.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Firearm training and practice facilities should not be closed.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  David Jensen, citizen (pro).